Judging - Part 1 (10.30.2005)

This week, we continue our study of compassion by looking at the opposite of it -- judging.

SAME SITUATION, TWO APPROACHES
Read the story of the man born blind in John 9:1-7. How do Jesus and the disciples relate to the blind man?

Jesus ...

1. Looks at him. Notice that Jesus does not point out the blind man to the disciples, but they do ask Him a question about the man's situation. Jesus' looking at the man must have been so intense and noticable that they, in turn, could not help but notice him as well. (Remind you of the story of the Widow of Nain?)
2. Sees a man
3. Redemptive categories
4. Hope for the future
5. Opportunity to glorify God
6. Doesn't judge him
7. Defends him
8. Touching - physically close. Notice that Jesus touches the blind man (putting mud on his eyes) before He even speaks one word to him.
9. Provides immediate healing and care, and provides deeper healing
10. Effective

Disciples ...

1. Talk about him in front of him
2. See a theological puzzle
3. Judgmental categories
4. No hope
5. Opportunity to glorify themselves
6. Judge him
7. Blame or his parents
8. Not touching - physically and mentally distant, superior
9. No help, but they are "religious"
10. Ineffective

Jesus looked at the blind man. The disciples judged him. What’s the difference in the two approaches?

• Looking -- slow, next to someone, quiet/listening, not thinking of self, understanding
• Judging -- quick, above others, talking, sure of self, dogmatic

Keep in mind that our culture today is strongly influenced by Jesus' compassion as Christianity has spread throughout the world. But during his time on Earth, such acts of compassion would have been uncommon, and possibly viewed as strange or inappropriate.

TREATING PEOPLE LIKE OBJECTS
When you judge people, you make moral pronouncements about them or take a superior stance ("I would never do that."). When you treat people like objects, you simply ignore them.

What people (or categories of people) might you treat like objects?

• telemarketers
• waiters / waitresses
• busboys
• flight attendants
• store clerks
• people from other countries

Notice that with many of these people, our time with them is almost always limited. Our relationships with them tend to be transactional in nature. Therefore, it is very easy to pass them by without making eye contact or connecting with them in any way. They become the scenery in our daily lives.

TABLE TALK

1. Tell about a time when you were judged by somebody else. What impact did that have on your relationship with the person?
2. Tell about a time when you judged somebody or a group. What impact did that have on your relationship with or your perception of the person or group?

The judgments we make about others can become walls that prevent us from being effectiveness witnesses. It is difficult to build a relationship with someone and to connect with them if we've already made up our mind about them, and are unable (or unwilling) to truly see them as they are and for who they are.

PRAYING GOD'S WORD
Use the following passages to pray God’s Word back to Him, either on your own or with others:

• I, therefore, have no excuse, I who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point I judge the other, I am condemning myself, because I who pass judgment do the same things. Now I know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when I, a mere human, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do I think I will escape Your judgment, God? (Romans 2:1-3)
  
• May The Real Deal humble ourselves before the Lord, and he will lift us up. Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brothers and sisters or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When we judge the law, we are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But we —who are we to judge our neighbor? (James 4:10-12)

BEING THE REAL DEAL
Here are some ways to apply this message from God’s Word:

• Ask God to open your eyes to people you may otherwise treat like objects. What can you do differently in your interactions with them?
  
• When you come a stoplight, make a note of what thoughts go through your mind when you look at the car in front of you. What conclusions do you come to about the person in the car?